EP3626647B1 - Dispensing closure for a fluid container - Google Patents

Dispensing closure for a fluid container Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3626647B1
EP3626647B1 EP19208008.3A EP19208008A EP3626647B1 EP 3626647 B1 EP3626647 B1 EP 3626647B1 EP 19208008 A EP19208008 A EP 19208008A EP 3626647 B1 EP3626647 B1 EP 3626647B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dispensing closure
container
dispensing
peripheral wall
closure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP19208008.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3626647A1 (en
Inventor
Bruno KÖNIGSEDER
Kristina FREUND
Siegfried RUNGE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Aptar Freyung GmbH
Original Assignee
Aptar Freyung GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Aptar Freyung GmbH filed Critical Aptar Freyung GmbH
Priority to ES19208008T priority Critical patent/ES2877276T3/es
Priority to EP19208008.3A priority patent/EP3626647B1/en
Publication of EP3626647A1 publication Critical patent/EP3626647A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3626647B1 publication Critical patent/EP3626647B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/10—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
    • B65D41/12—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively stiff metallic materials, e.g. crown caps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/10—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts
    • B65D41/12—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively stiff metallic materials, e.g. crown caps
    • B65D41/125—Caps or cap-like covers adapted to be secured in position by permanent deformation of the wall-engaging parts made of relatively stiff metallic materials, e.g. crown caps with integral internal sealing means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3423—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with flexible tabs, or elements rotated from a non-engaging to an engaging position, formed on the tamper element or in the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3428—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with flexible tabs, or elements rotated from a non-engaging to an engaging position, formed on the tamper element or in the closure skirt the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/20—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge
    • B65D47/2018—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps comprising hand-operated members for controlling discharge comprising a valve or like element which is opened or closed by deformation of the container or closure
    • B65D47/2025—Flexible bung-type elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/32—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with means for venting
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/16—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas
    • B65D51/1633—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element
    • B65D51/1644—Closures not otherwise provided for with means for venting air or gas whereby venting occurs by automatic opening of the closure, container or other element the element being a valve
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2205/00—Venting means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/20—Frangible elements completely enclosed in closure skirt
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure
    • B65D2401/25—Non-metallic tear-off strips

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dispensing closure for a container with a spout or an opening for a dispensing fluid, especially for containers which are placed or stored upside down, such that the spout or opening of the container is, in use, at a lower side, or for containers which are lying essentially horizontally, with an opening or a spout at a side portion.
  • Such containers are frequently used for storing milk, juice, water or wine or other fluid or viscous products as e.g. soap detergents, fabric softeners etc., but can be used also for other fluids or liquids.
  • Such a closure is for example known from WO 2006/086835 , which is considered to be the closest prior art and discloses a dispensing closure with a peripheral wall, a transverse wall and a toggle member, wherein the closure is adapted such that the closure is in its closed position when no force is exerted by a user onto said toggle member and wherein at least part of the transverse wall and at least part of the peripheral wall are distorted when a force is exerted onto said toggle member by a user.
  • claims 2 to 14 relate to specifically advantageous realization of such a dispensing closure.
  • Claim 15 refers to a system with a container and a dispensing closure.
  • the dispensing closure comprises a peripheral wall, a transverse wall and a toggle member.
  • the peripheral wall is adapted to at least partly fit within the spout and to seal against the spout of the container, when the closure is in its closed position and when the closure is attached to the container.
  • the transverse wall extends inside of the peripheral wall, preferably for closing off the dispensing closure.
  • the peripheral wall has preferably an essentially circular form, especially as the spouts and openings of containers, to which the dispensing closure shall be attached, also have a circular form.
  • the toggle member extends from the transverse wall and is arranged to be manipulated by a user in order to bring the closure into its opened position and in order to enable a dispensing of a fluid or liquid stored into a container.
  • the toggle member therefore extends from the transverse wall at a side being outside, in other words at a side being directed to the outside or to the atmosphere, not on a side which is directed to the inside of the container when the dispensing closure is attached to the container.
  • the peripheral wall and said transverse wall are made of an elastic material, preferably a flexible material which can be distorted when a force is exerted thereon and which then returns to its original form when the force is not exerted anymore.
  • Preferred materials are for example thermoplastic elastomers or blends thereof, LD-PE, LLDPE etc.
  • the closure is arranged and adapted such that the closure is in its closed position when no force is exerted by user onto said toggle member and at least part of the transverse wall and at least part of the peripheral wall are distorted, when a force is exerted to said toggle member by users, such that the seal between the peripheral wall and the spout of the container is partly opened to bring the closure in its opened position and to permit dispensing of fluid out of the container.
  • the dispensing closure further comprises a valve element.
  • Said valve element is provided in said transverse wall and is arranged such that it is closed when said closure is in its closed position and such that it is at least partly open, when said closure is in its opened position, to permit flow of air into said container.
  • Such dispensing closures are especially useful in packages of the bag-in-box type, which comprise a flexible bag for reception of the fluid or viscous material, and a paperboard box or a box of another more rigid material for reception of a filled bag.
  • packages of the bag-in-box type which comprise a flexible bag for reception of the fluid or viscous material, and a paperboard box or a box of another more rigid material for reception of a filled bag.
  • the flexible bag can shrink when the fluid is dispensed, while the dispensing of fluid is of course supported by gravity.
  • the dispensing of the liquid normally works well at the beginning, when the flexible bag in the bag-in-box type container is completely or still mainly filled, however, when the bag is more and more emptied, the bag will more and more collapse, which may lead to the effect that it is more difficult to dispense the liquid out of the bag, and there may be a remaining portion which cannot be dispensed at all.
  • the dispensing closure according to the present invention provides a valve, which permits flow of air into said container, when said closure is in its opened position, so that these problems are remarkably reduced or even do not occur at all, and a better dispensing property can be provided, especially when the container is more empty, in order to also get the remaining fluid out of the container.
  • the dispensing closure according to the present invention is also suitable for other containers, different from the bag-in-box type containers, especially for containers with rigid container walls, which, however may be used in a similar way as the bag-in-box containers, especially for containers which are placed upside down or which have the spout or opening at a downside part or at a side portion at a lower end and in which the spout or opening is placed such that, when the closure is opened, fluid is permitted to be dispensed under the influence of gravity without having to lift or move the container.
  • a dispensing of fluid of a container e.g. with a solid wall
  • a dispensing of fluid of a container would not work properly or would even not be possible, and only by provision of the inventive valve element, air is permitted to flow into said container, filling the volume of the dispensed liquid, so that thereby a generation of a vacuum within the container, generated by a partial dispensing of fluid, is reduced or avoided, which would very soon remarkably deteriorate the dispensing property or even fully prevent a further dispensing of fluid.
  • the dispensing closure according to the present invention therefore not only remarkably enhances the dispensing properties of a dispensing closure of the prior art for bag-in-box type containers, but furthermore for the first time enable utilization of such closures in similar containers having a rigid container wall and therefore an essentially constant volume of the container, not being decreased by a dispensing of the fluid and a collapsing of the container by itself.
  • the transverse wall and/or the peripheral wall are preferably distorted such that first a seal of the peripheral wall against the spout is at least partly opened to permit dispensing of the fluid out of the container. Only when further manipulating or pushing the toggle, the transverse wall and/or the peripheral wall are further distorted such that the valve is brought into its opened position to permit flow of air or atmosphere into said container.
  • This specific realization is especially advantageous as first the fluid is permitted to be dispensed out of the container, leading to an exact and desired dispensing and a certain decrease of pressure in a container, preferably with a rigid wall, by the exit of fluid out of the container, while thereafter the valve is at least partly opened, so that air can flow into said container and is preferably even sucked into the container by the decrease of pressure within the container, due to the exit of fluid out of the container.
  • valve element Especially as air is permitted to flow into said container through the valve element, being separate from the opening through which fluid can be dispensed, an undisturbed dispensing and essentially laminar dispensing of fluid out of the container is achieved.
  • peripheral wall, said transverse wall and said toggle are made of the same material, while preferred materials are thermoplastic elastomers or blends thereof, LD-PE, LLDPE etc.
  • peripheral wall, said transverse wall and said toggle member are realized as a unitary element, which is preferably manufactured by injection molding.
  • the injection molding could be a mono-injection molding or a bi-injection molding.
  • the outer wall or the side wall is made out of hard resin, for example PP, HD-PE etc., and the parallel wall is made of a flexible resin, as referred to above.
  • the toggle is made of an elastic and preferably flexible material, but the toggle member is arranged such that it is more rigid than said peripheral wall and/or said transverse wall.
  • the peripheral wall comprises an external portion and an internal portion which together form a receiving space for accommodating the spout or parts of the spout of the fluid container when said dispensing closure is attached to said container.
  • said external portion of said peripheral wall comprises a dispensing opening, through which fluid can be dispensed, through the dispensing closure and out of the container.
  • said external portion of said peripheral wall comprises a sealing element adapted to seal against an outer part of the spout of the container, whereas this sealing element is adapted such that the seal is realized both when said dispensing closure is in its closed position and when said dispensing closure is in its opened position.
  • said internal portion of said peripheral wall comprises a sealing element adapted to seal against an internal part of said spout of said container, wherein said sealing element is adapted such that it seals against the spout of the container when said dispensing closure is in its closed position and such that the seal is at least partly opened when said closure is in its opened position, wherein preferably the seal is opened in the vicinity of said dispensing opening of said external portion of the peripheral wall.
  • valve element comprises at least one opening through said transverse wall, preferably multiple openings, e.g.
  • said closing element is made of a rigid material, preferred materials are e.g. polypropylene or polyethylene, or also flexible materials, as e.g. TPE or silicone.
  • valve has the advantage that it is first of all easy to manufacture, while secondly the fact that the openings, through which flow of air into said container is permitted, are realized directly within the flexible and elastic transverse wall.
  • the relative movement of the closing element to the other parts of the valve element or the transverse wall is well defined and controlled, and the opening of the valve can be easily and reliably realized and secured by the manipulating of the toggle by a user, so that the dispensing closure can be reliably operated without the user having to initiate any additional steps or considering whether a valve has to be opened separately or not.
  • said closing element comprises a sealing surface and a post, preferably directly or indirectly extending from said sealing surface, said post being inserted into an opening of said transverse wall of said dispensing element and being attached to said transverse wall.
  • said valve element comprises a sealing wall extending from said transverse wall of said dispensing closure adapted to seal against the sealing surface of the closing element when said valve is in its closed position.
  • a sealing wall extending into the direction of the interior of the container, secures a reliable functioning of the valve and a well controlled opening of the valve.
  • said sealing wall is elastic and flexible and is made of the same material as the transverse wall, so that also this sealing wall can be manufactured together with the peripheral wall, the transverse wall and the toggle member in a single manufacturing step, as mentioned above preferably by injection molding.
  • said transverse wall comprises an actuating element, extending from an upper or outer side of the transverse wall, i.e. on a side of the wall opposite to where the sealing wall does extend, while said actuating element is arranged such that it exerts a force onto said valve element, preferably on said post of said closing element, when said toggle is manipulated by the user to bring the dispensing closure into its opened position.
  • actuating element extending from an upper or outer side of the transverse wall, i.e. on a side of the wall opposite to where the sealing wall does extend, while said actuating element is arranged such that it exerts a force onto said valve element, preferably on said post of said closing element, when said toggle is manipulated by the user to bring the dispensing closure into its opened position.
  • such a closure may further comprises a fastening element being made of a rigid material, said fastening element being attached to said peripheral wall, preferably to a lower part of said peripheral wall, for securing the dispensing closure to the spout of the container, wherein the dispensing closure further comprises a cap being attached to said fastening element by a removable temper evident element, preferably being realized as a removable temper evident ring.
  • Such a dispensing closure has the advantage that the material for the peripheral wall and the transverse wall can be selected solely with respect to its functioning, especially realizing the desired elastic and/or flexible properties in order to secure a well functioning of the closure and the desired distortion of the peripheral wall and the transverse wall, necessary for a proper opening of the dispensing closure in order to allow a dispense of liquid from the container, while at the same time securing a reliable fastening of the dispensing closure to the container, which may not be possible without said rigid fastening element, depending on the material selected for especially the peripheral and/or transverse wall.
  • the dispensing closure comprises a cap, which protects the dispensing closure from dust and dirt, especially the peripheral wall and the transverse wall as well as the toggle member, while additionally the peripheral wall and the transverse walls are also protected, so that any undesired damages are avoided, e.g. during transport etc., especially before the cap is opened for the first time.
  • the temper evident element secures, together with the fastening element of a rigid material, an unnoticed opening of the dispensing closure and therefore secures integrity of the container and the fluid stored in the container.
  • the cap can still be placed onto the dispensing closure for continued protection of the dispensing closure, while nevertheless it would be easily visible from the outside that the dispensing closure has already been opened at least once.
  • said fastening element, said temper evident element and said cap are made of the same rigid material, preferably polypropylene, HD-PE, polyethylene or other flexible resins like thermoplastic elastomers or silicone and, even more preferably, these three elements are also realized as a unitary element, which can be manufactured in one step, e.g. by injections molding.
  • the invention also covers a system with a container and such dispensing closures.
  • Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a dispensing closure 100 being mounted on a container 10.
  • the dispensing closure 100 comprises a peripheral wall 200, a transverse wall 300, a toggle member 400 and a valve element 500, details of which will become more apparent in the following figures.
  • the container 10 is shown as lying essentially in a horizontal direction, in which the container is also used, so that by manipulating the toggle member 400 by a user, thereby bringing the dispensing closure 100 into its opened position, fluid will be dispensed through a dispensing opening (see Fig. 2 ) due to the gravity influencing the fluid in the container 10.
  • Fig. 2 shows an enlarged view of the dispensing closure 100 as shown in Fig. 1 from a different perspective, while parts of the container 10 have been omitted.
  • Fig. 2 also shows the peripheral wall 200, the transverse wall 300, the toggle member 400 and the valve element 500 as well as a dispensing opening 260 being formed into the peripheral wall 200, through which liquid can be dispensed out of the container when the dispensing closure 100 is in its opened position.
  • Fig. 3 shows a cross section through the dispensing closure 100 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with parts of the container 10, more exactly with parts of the spout 20 of the container 10.
  • the dispensing closure 100 comprises a peripheral wall with an external portion 220 or an external wall and an internal portion 240 or internal wall, which together form a receiving space 230 in between for accommodating the spout 20 or parts of the spout 20 of the container, when said dispensing closure is attached to said container as shown in Fig. 3 .
  • the spout 20 of the container comprises an outer thread 22, which, however, is not used in this specific embodiment, as the dispensing closure 100 is not screwed onto the spout but pushed onto the spout 20.
  • the spout 20 comprises an outer notch 24, whereas the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200 comprises an inner notch 227, whereas these notches 24 and 227 do engage with each other when the dispensing closure 100 is pushed onto the spout 20, so that the dispensing closure 100 is attached to and fixed to the spout 20 and thereby to the container.
  • the notch 227 can also serve as an additional sealing element.
  • the outer portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200 comprises a sealing element 225, sealing against an upper part of the spout 20, so that no liquid can enter into the receiving space 230 or leak out of the closure.
  • the inner portion 240 of the peripheral wall 200 comprises a sealing element 245, which seals against an inner portion or inner side wall of the spout 20.
  • This sealing element 245 is essentially ring-like and seals against the inner part or inner side wall of the spout 20 over its complete circumference, when said dispensing closure 100 is in its closed position as shown in Fig. 3 . No liquid can therefore be dispensed in this closed position of the dispensing closure 100.
  • the dispensing closure 100 also comprises a valve element 500, which comprises multiple openings 520 in the transverse wall 300 and which comprises a closing element 560 with a post 562 and a sealing surface 566.
  • a valve element 500 which comprises multiple openings 520 in the transverse wall 300 and which comprises a closing element 560 with a post 562 and a sealing surface 566.
  • the post 562 is inserted through an opening 568 in the transverse wall 300, while a head portion 564, having a larger diameter than the rest of the post 562, secures the closing element 560 to the transverse wall 300.
  • the valve element 500 also comprises a sealing wall 540, which has an essentially cylindrical form, extending from said transverse wall 300 of said dispensing closure 100.
  • the sealing wall 540 is, over its complete circumference, in contact with the sealing surface 566 of the closing element 560, so that the valve element 500 is, in the position shown in Fig. 3 , closed and sealed, so that also no air can enter from the outside into the container.
  • Fig. 4 shows the dispensing closure 100 as shown in Fig. 3 , however in a position in which a user manipulates the toggle member 400, pushing the toggle member 400 partly into the direction of the container or spout, in Fig. 4 downwards, in order to move the dispensing closure into its opened position.
  • both the transverse wall 300 as well as parts of the peripheral wall 200 are distorted, such that the sealing member 245 moves away from the inner part or inner side wall of the spout 20, so that liquid can be dispensed as indicated by the arrow A.
  • the transverse wall is partly distorted, however, the valve element 500 is still in its closed position, with the sealing wall 540 still being in contact with the sealing surface 566 of the closing element 560, so that still no air can enter into the container via the valve element 500.
  • Fig. 5 shows the dispensing closure as shown in Figs. 3 and Fig. 4 , however, with the dispensing closure in its fully opened position, by the manipulation of the user.
  • liquid can be dispensed out of the container as indicated by arrow A through the dispensing opening 260, while, in comparison to the position in Fig. 4 , more liquid can be dispensed as the sealing element 245 is moved further away from the inner wall of the spout 20.
  • the valve element 500 is in its opened position, with the sealing wall 540 at least partly not being in contact anymore with the sealing surface 566 of the closing element 560, so that air can enter into the container through the openings 520 and between the sealing wall 540 and the sealing surface 566.
  • the volume of the container (not shown) which is not occupied anymore by the liquid as being dispensed, can be filled with air from the atmosphere, so that continuously a dispensing of fluid can be performed in a controlled way, especially a constant and preferably laminar dispensing can be secured.
  • Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of a dispensing closure according to the present invention, which is very similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 , so that it is referred to the above-mentioned description, in order to avoid repetitions, while the same or similar elements are also indicated with the same reference numerals.
  • Fig. 6 shows a dispensing closure with a fastening element 800, being made of a rigid material, here polypropylene or polyethylene, being attached to a lower part of the peripheral wall of the dispensing closure for securing the dispensing closure to the spout of the container.
  • the dispensing closure comprises a cap 840 being attached to said fastening element 800 by a removable temper evident element 820, which is essentially ring-like in this embodiment.
  • the temper evident element 820 has a grip portion 822, which can be grabbed by a user to remove the removable temper evident element 820, thereby enabling a removement of the cap 800, as will be shown in Fig. 7 .
  • Fig. 7 shows the embodiment of the dispensing closure as shown in Fig. 6 , however with the temper evident element 820 being opened and the cap 840 being removed.
  • the temper element 820 is completely detached from the fastening element 800 and, as shown in Fig. 7 , still partly attached to the cap 840.
  • the fastening element 800 remains in its original position, its functioning will be better explained in connection with the description of Fig. 8 , see hereinafter.
  • the temper evident element 820 and the cap 840 are adapted such that the temper evident element 820 remains partly fixed to the cap 840, however, in other embodiments, it is also possible to completely remove the temper evident element 820 also from the cap 840.
  • Fig. 8 shows the embodiment of the dispensing closure as shown in Fig. 6 and 7 , with the cap 840 and the temper evident element 820 still being attached to the fastening element 800, as shown in Fig. 6 .
  • the fastening element 800 being made of a rigid material, secures the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall in its position, so that especially the notches 24 and 227 are still engaged with each other.
  • the fastening element 800 comprises a notch 820, being an engagement with a lower part of the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200, securing the position of the fastening element 800 relative to the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200.
  • the fastening element 800 is made of a more rigid material and therefore increases the force being necessary to detach the dispensing closure 100 from the neck 20 of the container.
  • the fastening ring 800 is arranged such that the fastening ring 800 and the dispensing closure 100 cannot be removed from the neck 20 of the container without destroying or partly destroying the fastening ring 800.
  • the fastening ring 800, the temper evident element 820 and the cap 840 cover the dispensing closure 100 essentially completely to the outside, so that the dispensing closure 100 is protected from dust or dirt and also protected from any damages during transport etc.
  • the cap 840 comprises an inner, ring-like seal portion 842, which seals the cap 840 to the dispensing closure 100, in this embodiment to the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200.
  • This ring-like sealing portion 842 also leads to a certain friction between the cap 840 and the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall 200, which leads to the effect that the cap 840 can be, after first removal, also be placed again onto the dispensing closure for covering and protection, such that a certain force is necessary to remove the cap 840 again, also avoiding that the cap 840 just falls off unintentionally from the dispensing closure 100.
  • Fig. 9 shows a cross section of the dispensing closure as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 , with the cap and the temper evident element being removed as shown in Fig. 7 .
  • the fastening element 800 remains in its position and secures an exact positioning and attachment of the dispensing closure 100 on the spout 20 of the container, even if, as in this embodiment, the dispensing closure and especially the peripheral wall and the external portion 220 of the peripheral wall are made of a flexible, elastic material.
EP19208008.3A 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container Active EP3626647B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES19208008T ES2877276T3 (es) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Cierre dispensador para un recipiente de fluido
EP19208008.3A EP3626647B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17713616.5A EP3601086B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container
PCT/EP2017/057007 WO2018171886A1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container
EP19208008.3A EP3626647B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17713616.5A Division EP3601086B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container
EP17713616.5A Division-Into EP3601086B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3626647A1 EP3626647A1 (en) 2020-03-25
EP3626647B1 true EP3626647B1 (en) 2021-05-05

Family

ID=58413079

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17713616.5A Active EP3601086B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container
EP19208008.3A Active EP3626647B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17713616.5A Active EP3601086B1 (en) 2017-03-23 2017-03-23 Dispensing closure for a fluid container

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US11053055B2 (zh)
EP (2) EP3601086B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN110621588B (zh)
BR (1) BR112019019687B1 (zh)
ES (2) ES2939639T3 (zh)
MX (1) MX2019011236A (zh)
WO (1) WO2018171886A1 (zh)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20200377271A1 (en) 2020-12-03
US11053055B2 (en) 2021-07-06
BR112019019687B1 (pt) 2022-06-14
ES2939639T3 (es) 2023-04-25
EP3626647A1 (en) 2020-03-25
EP3601086B1 (en) 2023-02-08
CN110621588B (zh) 2021-09-28
MX2019011236A (es) 2019-11-01
EP3601086A1 (en) 2020-02-05
ES2877276T3 (es) 2021-11-16
WO2018171886A1 (en) 2018-09-27
CN110621588A (zh) 2019-12-27
BR112019019687A2 (pt) 2020-04-14

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